"Child Large Elemental" Leather Split-Sole Ballet Slipper

The "Elemental" is a split sole leather ballet slipper that has been specifically designed to supersede the full sole ballet slipper. The shoe contains a patent applied support and strengthening substructure built into the shoe. The structure is designed to impose a level of controlled resistance to the muscles of the lower leg each time the foot points and flexes, building strength and stability over time. The structure is shaped to envelop the heel and arch which offers the dancer an unrivaled level of protection. It supports the foot and arch and allows the intrinsic muscles to recover when at rest. All this is achieved while maintaining the optimum aesthetics for a longer leg and a clean line.

The "Child Large Elemental" is a narrow-fitting shoe, as it has been constructed for children with long feet who require an adult length without the extra width. This shoe is not recommended for adults. Please order one width up from normal.

Suggested Fitting:
Children order ½ - 1 size larger than street, and increase width by one size.Available in sizes: (adult) 5.0-12.0 N,M,W(Half sizes not available after 10.0)(N not available in 11.0 and 12.0)

Suggested fitting for this item:

WIDTH

FITS

A

Narrow

B

Medium

C - D

Wide

This information is shown as a guide only and not a guarantee.Actual fitting may vary.

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Great shoes for frequent dancers

by: Hoosiersista - 01/05/2015

Comfort:

Durability:

Just bought my daughter her 2nd pair of these shoes. We used to just buy the cheap shoes, and I had problems with her wearing them out before she outgrew them. She takes dance 3 times a week, and this pair of shoes lasted about a year. You can hold them in your hand and feel that they are much more substantial than the cheaper shoes. She says she can feel more "softness" as she dances and that they make her feet feel better at the end of class. She wears a child size 3 1/2 but I had to get a size 5 1/2 in this shoe, but her foot is hard to fit as it is very wide at the toe and very narrow on the heel, so she's probably not a perfect size guide.

This is my second pair

by: Coralballerina - 09/16/2014

Comfort:

Durability:

Great shoes, make you work your feet more, not that it is noticeable, split sole but the materials inside the shoe make you work your foot more like a full sole. This is my second pair. I did have some stitching come undone toward the end of the life of the last pair, but that happens to every other brand too. They come with straps stitched so they are ready to wear as soon as they come in the mailbox.

Perfect!

by: Emilyleebee - 12/21/2013

Comfort:

These do run small, so make sure you order your street size and a size larger in width! These are also very comfortable and have great arch support! It's always risky buying ballet shoes online, but you should be fine if you order them in your street shoe size and a width size larger.

Beware Runs VERY Narrow!!!!

by: koolchicken - 09/09/2013

Comfort:

I was so excited when I learned about these shoes and ordered them as soon as I could. After taking FOREVER to get here I can barely get my feet inside them. They are the perfect length. Whatever size you measure just buy, don't go down a half size like they say to here (the manufacture website says buy street size). Just be sure you go up in the width. My feet measure between regular and narrow, yet the leather was straining to get around my feet!. No amount of breaking in will fix these. It's such an issue I don't understand why they don't say to go up in width in the fitting info.
Other than that they're awesome shoes. They're comfy and they don't bunch at all under the arch, they really show it off nicely. The little carry bag is also a nice touch and the leather is quite soft. I think once I switch sizes they'll be my new favorites.

Great shoes

by: balletteacher - 07/16/2013

Comfort:

Durability:

I'm an older dancer and really love the extra padding in the metatarsal area of these shoes. These shoes make my feet work more, so I have gained strength since I started wearing them. I will probably never buy another brand of ballet slipper again unless it incorporates these features.

Dance Parents happy with MDM products.

by: mydazzlingdaughter - 07/08/2013

Comfort:

Durability:

Thanks MDM!
My daughter and her class mates love this shoe! She has been wearing it for a couple of months now and she can really feel the extra support and her feet do feel stronger. Even her teacher commented on this. ( which as a parent made me feel so happy we had given the shoes a try) She has a slightly tapered foot and we found these shoes to fit her perfectly so Im not sure what the poster below is saying. I guess everyones feet are different? The girls were commenting just the other day how these shoes make their feet look. I'd highly suggest giving them a go. Especially when they train your child's feet as they train. Just remarkable and a wonderful product. Huge fans.

Ugly Pointe

by: Bebop - 06/24/2013

Comfort:

Durability:

These feel great and they definitely work your foot, but what they do to my pointe is horrible!
The toe box is cut rounded, so there is no taper to the front of the slipper. This creates a lot of extra fabric which puckers above the toes when I pointe and completely masks my pointe. It is really very ugly, especially when I tondu to the side. I have now delegated these to at-home practice only.

Really wanted it to work, but nope

by: StaceyS - 06/17/2013

Comfort:

Durability:

This shoe is beautiful and so intrictly designed. My daughter fell in love as she saw them. The shoe is cut narrow, which is a major bonus for us (she wears a 6AAA). The design does provide a nice amount of resistance while feeling nice and snug.
I ordered 1/2 size down as recommended, only to find that while the shoe fit beautifully for width, it was clearly too short. We just got another pair in her street size (6N) and the length and width are both perfect, but one of the shoes is cut wrong and digs in her foot, so another pair has to go back. She's disappointed but we plan on trying again after the intensive.

In love

by: DancingGoddess - 06/12/2013

Comfort:

Durability:

I never thought I'd like another soft show after DD stopped carrying Leo's AIRabesque. Then this show came along. Like another reviewer said, it's shower in back than a lot of other shoes, but is truly perfect. Perfect color, incredible support, and to address the concern of another reviewer, being leather, they will soften and slightly stretch to mold to your feet. This isn't a problem with the shoe. This is just how leather is.
As long as this show is made, this is what I will use.

Well made, but trouble with fit and comfort

by: not2old2dance - 05/11/2013

Comfort:

Durability:

I hung up my pointe shoes 25 years ago and recently returned to ballet. I was looking for a supportive shoe since I have developed ankle and foot issues that required ankle surgery 3 yrs. ago. These shoes are well engineered, and are supportive (the arch feels similar to a full sole), but I had trouble with the fitting. I wear 6.0 M street shoe (dress shoes). The 6.0 M fits length, but felt too tight in width, the 6.0 W was too wide. 6.5 M was too long. This is strange, because the other ballet shoes I've gotten have been width A or B (narrow). What I ended up doing is resewing the elastics looser on the 6.0 M- which made the shoe width more comfortable, although the binding is still tight and dig into my achilles tendon, making me wish these had a drawstring. I also wish the forefoot and heel suede outer soles were larger. I find the inside forefoot and heel cushions are hard and uncomfortable- they dig into my heel and forefoot, leaving imprints on my foot even if wearing tights. I have covered the inside heel and forefoot with moleskin and that has helped. I kept the 6.0 M because the shoe does offer support, is a beautiful color, and looks absolutely gorgeous on my foot, showing off my arch well. However, I use these only for barre work to strengthen my foot and ankle. These aren't my primary ballet shoe. I so wish these worked better for me, they are a beautiful shoe!

Very nice and comfortable!

by: kirikat - 04/20/2013

Comfort:

Durability:

These are my favorite pair of leather slippers yet! They hug the foot nicely and support my arch unlike other split soles. The heels feel structured and cushion well. Leather is thin and light, pleats are very flat. Does match street shoe size. Also the very light pink color matches tights well, makes for a nicer leg line. Great shoe! :)

BEST!

by: lisahearttruffle - 04/15/2013

Comfort:

Durability:

wow, i love them. my weight is evenly distributed, whether i am standing or on releve. past shoes all felt like i was standing on a big wad of tissue paper from the pleating. not this pair. buy today!!!

Great slipper

by: adultbunhead - 04/07/2013

Comfort:

Durability:

I wore these slippers to class today for the first time. My feet warmed up very quickly in them and my feet and ankles felt supported throughout. I've been in canvas split-soles since returning to ballet at the beginning of the year (after 15 years away from dance# because that's what I was wearing when I stopped dancing in my teens.
The heel and arch support in the shoe is noticeable but not distracting or anything. I found it easier to press my heels into the floor in jumps and relax my foot a bit on floor. Also, my Achilles didn't get revved up at all #which is unusual for me#.
I wear a size 10 streets shoe #I wear a wide in dress shoes because of bunions but have a narrow heel) and ordered these in 9.5M. I wouldn't go any shorter on length... big toe is right there.
The color is really pretty... not too pink, but not boring beige either.
I think my foot looks more like it's pointed in a full soled shoe than a really flexible split-sole, but the line is pretty enough and the shoe is very comfortable.

Very Comfortable!

by: Ballerina21 - 03/30/2013

Comfort:

Durability:

I love this slipper, the arch and heel support is amazing, good for strengthening the feet. The color is perfect! I wear an 8W and ordered a 7W and it is perfectly snug for a good fit. Also the lining in the shoe is wonderful! Also, the slippers come with a cute satin bag to put your shoes in!

Very interesting shoe

by: TheDancingQueen - 03/17/2013

Comfort:

Durability:

Aesthetically beautiful and I love the arch support. The one unusual thing is the heel is lower than I'm used to, which makes the shoe feel like it's going to slide off. But it doesn't. When pointed, it's perfect.
While it's of little importance overall, the color is amazing.
This is my new go-to leather shoe, and may replace my preference for canvas.

mdm size

by: cecil (11/06/2013 - Ann Arbor, Mi, Usa) Age: 45 to 54

I'm an older dancer and really love the extra padding in the metatarsal area of these shoes.
I am wearing size 5M now.
But if I wear a little smaller shoes that would be great .(medium wide is good )
unfortunately there is no 4.5 shoes.
so can you recommend children's size shoes for me ?

The sizing on the adult states to order .5 smaller than street. The child sizing on item MB115C states to order the same as street size. If you are a 5.0 in adult you would need to purchase a child size 3.- DDS Customer Service (11/08/2013)

Where is size 10.5?

by: Susandancer (06/15/2013) Age: 25 to 34

I love the canvas version of this shoe, but would like a pair in leather for the times I'm not dancing on Marley. The product info indicates that 11.5 isn't available but doesn't mention 10.5 being unavailable.

We apologize. The website should say that neither 10.5 or 11.5 are available sizes.- DDS Customer Service (06/17/2013)

Length plus width? Also, do these require a "break in" period?

by: Fiorastar (05/15/2013 - Eugene, Or) Age: 17 or under

Two questions:
1) My daughter, 14, intermediate to advanced dancer, has long narrow feet, with long narrow toes and a slender heel. She wears a 6.5 M street shoe, but sometimes ballet slippers gap unless she tightens the drawstring. Since these don't have a drawstring, but we don't want to push on her toes, should she order a 6.5 N or a 6.0 M?
2) The design features of this shoe are very intriguing, as she also has flat feet and has been told she needs to strengthen. Are these a shoe she can just put on and dance in, or do they require a break-in period? She needs some for a show right away.

For your first daughter, our best recommendation is to go with the manufacturer sizing and go to 1/2 size from street shoe. Unfortunately since we cannot size her in person, we cannot guarantee the sizing on this. Typically we do not see a significant break in time, but it will take a little time for the leather to give to start shaping to her foot.- DDS Customer Service (05/16/2013)

Hi Fiorastar. The support and strengthening device built into MDM shoes does not require a break in period. The material is designed to offer the correct amount of resistance for muscle development as well as give feedback for dancer proprioception. Good luck and enjoy! - Mdmdance (06/24/2013)